On July 11, 2017, the German Federal Supreme Court announced that it had affirmed the decision of the Federal Patent Court last year to issue a compulsory license allowing Merck to continue selling its HIV drug, raltegravir (marketed as Isentress).
On July 4th, 2017, Andrew Goldman delivered Knowledge Ecology International’s intervention on patents at health at the 26th session of the WIPO Standing Committee on the Law of Patents (SCP).
KEI Statement on Patents and Health
WIPO Standing Committee on the Law of Patents – 26th SessionJuly 4th, 2017
Since the African Group and Development Agenda Group first tabled their proposal on a work program on patents and health in May 2011, much has happened.
On June 6, 2017, Knowledge Ecology International wrote to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) asking the Department to adopt a policy on the licensing of federally-funded CRISPR patented inventions. (Copy here).
Lexmark: The Supreme Court’s patent exhaustion case and parallel trade in drugs
KEI Briefing Note 2017:2. James Love. Revised 31 May 2017.
On Wednesday, 24 May 2017, Knowledge Ecology International (KEI), Oxfam and Stichting Health Action International (HAI) are convening a side event on addressing access barriers and affordability challenges for cancer medicines. This panel will take place in Salle IX of the United Nations Palais des Nations from 18:00 to 19:30.
Date: Wednesday, 24 May 2017
Time: 18:00 to 19:30
Location: Salle IX, United Nations Palais des NationsPanelists:
How Sanofi Prices Its MS Drug Aubagio (Teriflunomide) in the U.S. and Five Reference Countries
The U.S. Army recently rejected requests by public interest groups, Senator Bernie Sanders, and almost a dozen House Democrats to refuse to grant Sanofi an exclusive license on patents on a Zika virus vaccine, or, alternatively, to ensure that the license included terms assuring that U.S. taxpayers would not pay a higher price than other high-income countries. Specifically, KEI proposed the following terms to be included in the contract:
Dr. Elias Zerhouni defends Sanofi/Army proposed license on Zika patents, and KEI responds
On March 21, 2017, the New York Times published a letter signed by Dr. Elias Zerhouni, defending the proposed Sanofi monopoly on the US Army patents to the Zika virus. The letter is available from the NYT from the following link, and also reprinted here, followed by commentary.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/21/opinion/developing-a-zika-vaccine.html
To the Editor:
Re “Trump Should Avoid a Bad Zika Deal” (Op-Ed, March 11):
KEI 10 March 2017 Comments on Army Exclusive License on Zika Virus Vaccine Patents to Sanofi
On March 10, 2017, KEI filed our 3rd set of comments with the U.S. Army Medical Research and Material Command (USAMRMC) on their proposed grant of an exclusive license on Zika virus vaccine patents to the French pharmaceutical company Sanofi.
KEI Briefing Note 2017:1. Bayh-Dole Act and difference between March-In Rights and the world wide royalty free rights in patents
Bayh-Dole Act and difference between March-In Rights and the world wide royalty free rights in patents KEI Briefing Note 2017:1 When the United States federal government funds research that results in patents, it obtains rights, either directly or through contracts,… Continue Reading
Feb 24, 2017 – U.S. History, Experiences, and Prospects of Compulsory Licensing of Medical Patents
Full Video of Event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-stSKXmY-Wc
On Friday, February 24, 2017, KEI hosted a meeting exploring compulsory licensing in the United States.
Title: History, Experiences, and Prospects of Compulsory Licensing on Medical Patents in the United States
Date: Friday February 24, 2017
Location: Kaiser Permanente Center for Total Health
700 Second St. NE (near Union Station)
Washington, DC 20002